Bucket linkage



May 8, 1956 F. M. SOMERS 2,744,640

BUCKET LINKAGE Filed Dec. 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Francis M. .Somers INVENTOR.

BY MM EH F. M. SOMERS BUCKET LINKAGE May 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1952 Fr ancis M. 50m ers INVENTOR. 4053.- BY @110 WWW mq,

F. M. SOMERS BUCKET LINKAGE May 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1952 v @Q III]. N am Q: vt o9 m m 8 3 E vm mm v mm LIZ m A ew W un w Q om w QV WW NV vn v Francis M. Somers INVENTOR.

United States Patent BUCKET LINKAGE Francis M. Somers, Urbana, ill.

Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,678

10 Claims. (Cl- 214-147) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tractor mounted hydraulic loaders and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a bucket and novel and improved means for detachably mounting the same upon the boom of a hydraulic loader.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a bucket attachment for the boom of hydraulic loaders that will permit a bucket to be moved relatively close to the front end of a tractor for the purpose of obtaining a more effective lift on a load handled by the bucket while permitting the load to be placed or raised from the front end of the tractor without having to move the tractor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved boom attachment for hydraulic loaders involving hydraulically actuated complemental bucket sections that will effectively hold a load as it is being raised or lowered close to the front end of a tractor.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a bucket attachment for loaders that is extremely simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, eificient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and maintain, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tractor mounted hydraulic loader and showing the present invention operatively mounted on the loader;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the bucket lowered and the bucket forming sections spread to engage the ground;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of r Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 of Figure 5; and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the U-shaped frame member used in the invention and the manner in which the bucket support is connected thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 19 a hydraulically actuated jack cylinder 24 is pivoted, as.

- ice at 26, to the cross member 29 and the piston rod 28 of the cylinder 24 is normally connected to a bucket or the like (not shown) pivotally mounted on the boom to rock the bucket.

The present invention does not attempt to claim the above well known structure but is merely a bucket attachment removably mounted on the boom to swing under the boom and relatively close to the front end of the tractor to increase the lifting power of the boom and permit more selectivity in placing or raising a load without having to move the tractor on which the loader is mounted.

To accomplish the desired results, there is provided a substantially U-shaped rigid frame 39 having tubular leg portions 32 whose upper ends are joined by a web-forming bar 34. Pairs of spaced parallel straps 36 are welded to and extend downwardly from the lower ends of the leg portions 32 and straddle the forward ends of the side members 14. Horizontal pivot pins 33 extend through registering apertures provided in the forward ends of side members 14 and the lower ends of straps 36 to removably and pivotally attach the frame 30 to the boom The ends of the pins' 38 are provided with transverse holes accommodating cotter pins or the like 40, whereby the pivot pins 38 may be removed from the straps 36 and side members 14 after the cotter pins 40 have been removed.

Suitable bracing straps 42 extend diagonally between and are fixed by welding or the like to the leg portions 32 to reinforce and strengthen the U-shaped frame '31 Plates 44 are welded to the facing peripheries of the leg portions 32, at the upper ends thereof, and these plates are apertured to align with apertures in the leg portions 32 receiving the ends of a horizontal shaft 46. The ends of the shaft 46 project outwardly from leg portions 32 and are transversely apertured to receive cotter pins 48 that removably secure the shaft 46 to the frame 30.

Means is provided for adjustable securing the frame 30 to the boom 12. This means comprises a pair of angle iron bars 50 having straps 52 welded to their forward ends. The straps 52 are formed with apertures through which the shaft 46 extends to pivotally attach the bars 50 to the frame 30. The rear end portions of the bars 50 are provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 54 for selectively registering with apertures 56 in the gusset plates 16. Locking pins 58 are extended through the apertures 56 and selected apertures 54 to retain the frame 30 adjusted about its pivot pins 38.

A support 60 is swingably mounted on the frame 39 and includes a tubular shaft 62 through which the shaft 46 of frame 30 extends to constitute the means pivotally and removably securing the support 66 to the frame 36. An elongated member 64 is fixed to, the center of the shaft 62 by welding or the like and extends perpendicular to the shaft 62. The outer end of the member 64 is connected to the ends of shaft 62 by rigid reinforcing and strengthening bars 66. A substantially U-shap'ed strap member 68 is terminally welded to shaft 62 to reinforce and strengthen the latter. Means is provided for imparting swinging motion to th support 66 and for adjusting the support 6ft about its pivot 46. This means comprises the cylinder 24 whose piston rod 28- is pivoted, as at it), to member 64 intermediate ends of member 64. The .cylinder 24 is connected in the usual manner to the hydraulic controls of .the tractor so that the tractor operator may selectively I moment exerted upon bar 72 by piston rod 28. The lower or outer ends of bars 72 removably support a horizontal pin 74 over which is engaged the upper corner 76 of a rigid connector loop 78. The lower corner 80 of loop 78 is engaged under a horizontal rod 82-fixedly carried by a substantially rectangular connecting frame 84 having rigid cross members 85 that relieve bending of rod 82.

The numerals 86 and'88 represent-a pair ofcornplemental bucket forming halves or sections to which forward and rear rigid frameworks 90 and 92 are fixedly secured by welding or the like. The frameworks 9i) and 92 are provided with 'ove rlappingend portions 94 and 96 that are joined by a horizontal pivot 98.

Forward and rear hanger frames 100 and 102 are provided for connecting the frameworks 90 and 92 to the support 60. The upper ends of the frames 100 and 102 are apertured to accommodate the rod-82 with the upper bifurcated end of frame 102 located between the upper bifurcated end of-frame 100 as shown in Figure 5.

The lower ends of thehanger-frames 100 and 102 are pivotally secured to the frameworks 90-and 92 by horizontal pivots 106 and 108-which are spaced parallel to the pivot 98. The upper closed end of a hydraulic jack cylinder 110 is provided with spaced ears 112 that receives the rod 82, the loop 78-being engaged with rod 82 between and spaced from theears 112. The cylinder 110 includes a piston rod 114 that extends from the lower end of the cylinder 110 to be coupled, as at 116, to the pivot 98. The flexible conduits 118 and 120 extending from the ends of the cylinder 110 are operatively connected to the hydraulicsystem of the tractor and to suitable valve means, whereby the rod 114 may be selectively extended or retracted-from moving the bucket halves 86 and 88 away from or toward each other.

In practical use of the present invention, the boom 12 may be lowered and cylinder 24 actuated in order to swing the support 60 upwardly as shown in Figure 2. The cylinder 110 is actuated to extend the piston rod 114 downwardly and effect a spreading of the jaws or bucket halves 86 and 88. The boom 12 may be additionally lowered so that the sections 86 and 88 will dig into the ground, a pile of material orengage a load,- after which the rod 114 is retracted to cause the bucketssections 86 and 88 to engage the load. Next, the boom 12 is raised and the support 60 swung downwardly in substantial alignment with the frame 30, thereby-positioningthe bucket sections 86 and 88 relatively close to the ground-as well as the front end of the tractor.

The linkage consisting of the frame -30, support 60, hanger 100 and 102, andfra'meworks 90, 92, will permit a load to be raised from or be placed relatively close to the front end of the tractor without-increasing'the length of the boom when the linkage is disposed in its carrying position as illustrated in Figure l. The linkage construction also permits a load to be'raised from or placed close to the front end of the tractor without having to move the tractor and thereby adds to the multiple uses of the boom 12.

Loop 78 will allow a limited-amount of freedom for the bucket assembly including frame 84 torotate several degrees about its vertical axis while 72 remains fixed in any of its positions. As frame 84'rotates on its vertical axis, rod 82 rides upward on the inclined sides of loop 78 and as rotation continues loop 78 rotates on its vertical axis riding upward on pin 74. This riding upward will raise the weight of the structure so that the-weight of all members below pin 74 exert a restraining *force'against rotation about their vertical axis.

From the foregoing, the constructionand operation of the device will be readily-understoodand further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However; since numerous modifications and changes will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accord- -ingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a hydraulic loader including a vertically swingable boom having a pair of parallel side members, a cross member joining said side members and a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted on said cross member and adapted to tilt a bucket pivotally supported between and upon the forward ends of said side'members; a bucket replacement for the normal bucket supported on the boom, said bucket replacement comprising a'rigid U-shaped frame member having leg portions pivotally attached to the forward ends of said side members, means adjustably securing said frame member to said boom, a vertically swingahle support pivotally supported by said frame member and connected to said cylinder to be swung by the latter, forward and rear hanger frames having upper ends pivotally attached to the forward end of said support, forward and rear bucket forming halves, forward and rear frameworks fixed to and'extending upwardly from said bucket forming halves, pivot means securing the forward and rear frameworks to the forward and rear hanger frames, said frameworks having overlapping end portions, and a hydraulic jackcylinder carried by said support and connected to the overlapping end portions of said frameworks for moving the latter about the pivot means selectively toward and away from each other.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a substantially rectangular holding frame including a plurality of cross members and end rails paralleling said cross members, a horizontal rod carried by said end railsand said cross members and securing the upper ends of said hanger frames and said jack cylinder to said holding frame, a horizontal pin carried by the outer end of said support, and means connecting said rod to said pin.

3. The combination of claim 1 and a substantially rectangular holding frame including a plurality of cross members and end rails paralleling said cross members, a horizontal rod carried by said end rails and said cross members and securing the upper ends of said hanger frames and said jack cylinder to said holding frame, a horizontal pin carried by the outer end of said support, and means connecting-said rod to said pin, and a substantially square rigid loop having an upper corner engaged over the pin and a lowercorncr engaged under the rod to connect the pin to the rod.

4. The combination of claim 1 and a pair of rigid straps secured to each leg portion of said U-shaped frame memher and straddling the outer ends of saidsidc members, and horizontal pivot pinsextending through said straps and said side members.

5. in combination with the boom of a hydraulic loader having a pair of side members, gusset plates fixed to the members adjacent their forward ends, a cross member extending between said gusset plates and a cylinder pivotally mounted on said cross member, of a bucket attachment for the boom comprising a vertically swingabic frame pivotally mounted on the forward ends of said side members, means adjustably securing said frame to said gussets, a vertically swingable support carried by said frame and connected to the cylinder to be swung by the cylinder, a pair of complemental bucket forming halves carried by the support and movable selectively toward and away from each other, and means connected to said halves for selectively moving the halves toward and away from each other.

6. In combination with the boom of a hydraulic loader having a pair of side members, gusset plates fixed to the members adjacent their forward ends, a cross member extending between said gusset plates and a cylinder pivotally mounted on said cross member, of a bucket attachment for the boomcomprising a vertically swingable frame'pivotally mounted on the forward ends of said side members, means adjustably securing said frame to saidgussets, a vertically swingable support carried by said frame and connected to the cylinder to be swung by the cylinder, a pair of complemental bucket forming halves carried by the support and movable selectively towardand away from each other, and a jack cylinder pivotally attached to said support and having a piston rod operatively connected to said halves for selectively moving the halves toward and away from each other.

7. In combination with the boom of a hydraulic loader having a pair of side members, gusset plates fixed to the members adjacent their forward ends, a cross member extending between said gusset plates and a cylinder pivotally mounted on said cross members, of a bucket attachment for the boom comprising a vertically swingable frame pivotally mounted on the forward ends of said side members, means adjustably securing said frame to said gussets, a vertically swingable support carried by said frame and connected to the cylinder to be swung by the cylinder, a pair of complemental bucket forming halves carried by the support and movable selectively toward and away from each other, forward and rear hanger frames having overlapping upper ends pivotally engaged with said support, forward and rear frameworks pivoted to the lower ends of said hanger frames and having overlapping end portions, a bucket forming half secured to each framework, and means connecting said supports to said overlapping end portions of said 1 frameworks for moving the same selectively toward and away from each other.

8. In combination with the boom of a hydraulic loader having a pair of side members, gusset plates fixed to the members adjacent their forward ends, a cross member extending between said gusset plates and a cylinder pivotally mounted on said cross member, of a bucket attachment for the boom comprising a vertically swingable frame pivotally mounted on the forward ends of said side members, means adjustably securing said frame to said gussets, a vertically swingable support carried by said frame and connected to the cylinder to be swung by the cylinder, a pair of complemental bucket forming halves carried by the support and movable selectively toward and away from each other, forward and rear hanger frames having overlapping upper ends pivotally engaged with said support, forward and rear frameworks pivoted to the lower ends of said hanger frames and having overlapping end portions, a bucket forming half secured to each framework, a jack cylinder having a closed upper end pivotally engaged with said support, and said jack cylinder including a piston rod movable from the lower end of the cylinder and pivotally attached to the overlapping end portions of said frameworks for selectively moving the frameworks toward and away from each other.

9. A bucket attachment for the booms of loaders, said attachment comprising a substantially U-shaped frame having means for pivotally and removably securing the same to a boom, a vertically swingable support pivotally attached at one end to the frame, forward and rear hanger frames pivotally engaged with said support, forward and rear bucket forming halves, forward and rear frameworks fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from said halves and having overlapping end portions, pivot means securing said forward and rear frameworks to said forward and rear hanger frames, and a jack cylinder connecting the overlapping end portions of. said frameworks to said support to selectively move the frameworks toward and away from each other.

10. The combination of claim 9 and a substantially rectangular holding frame including a plurality of cross members and end rails paralleling said cross members, a rod carried by said cross members and said rails and connecting the cylinder and the hanger frames to the support, a pin carried by the support, and a rigid square loop engaged under the rod and over the pin to connect the holding frame to the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,898 Luce Apr. 15, 1924 1,563,505 Lough Dec. 1, 1925 2,639,048 Glashaw May 19, 1953 

